Undergarment covering a lower back area and abdomen of a wearer

ABSTRACT

A garment worn under the clothes of a wearer comprising a lower portion and an upper portion wherein a bottom edge of the upper portion is coupled to a top edge of the lower portion along a seam. The lower portion supports a pelvic area of the wearer. The upper portion extends from the top edge of the lower portion to a ribcage area of the wearer. A top edge of the upper portion has an elastic material configured to maintain a position of the top edge of the upper portion proximate to the ribcage area of the wearer such that, when a particular movement of the wearer causes the clothes of the wearer to expose skin of the lower back area and abdomen of the wearer, the upper portion is exposed while covering the lower back area and the abdomen of the wearer.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/485,191, filed Apr. 13, 2017. The foregoing provisional application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The application relates generally to clothing articles, and in particular, to an undergarment suitable for use by a female wearer and configured to cover a lower back area and abdomen of the wearer while supporting a pelvic area of the wearer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, and the accompanying exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, which are briefly described below.

FIG. 1 is a front view of an undergarment configured to cover a lower back area and abdomen of a wearer.

FIG. 2 is a back view of the undergarment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a first alternative embodiment of an undergarment configured to cover a lower back area and abdomen of a wearer.

FIG. 4 is a back view of the undergarment of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a second alternative embodiment of an undergarment configured to cover a lower back area and abdomen of a wearer.

FIG. 6 is a back view of the undergarment of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in the figures, the undergarment comprises a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion includes a top edge and extends around a crotch area, a rear area and a hip area of the wearer. The upper portion may be tubular and includes a top edge and a bottom edge. The bottom edge of the upper portion may be coupled to the top edge of the lower portion along a seam.

The top edge of the lower portion has an elastic material configured to maintain a position of the top edge of the lower portion proximate to a waist area or hip area of the wearer. The upper portion extends from the top edge of the lower portion to a ribcage area of the wearer. The top edge of the upper portion has an elastic material configured to maintain a position of the top edge of the upper portion proximate to the ribcage area of the wearer.

Accordingly, when a particular movement of the wearer causes the clothes of the wearer to expose the skin of the lower back area and the abdomen of the wearer, only the upper portion covering the lower back area and the abdomen of the wearer is exposed. The undergarment described herein provides unique lower back area and abdomen coverage of the wearer while supporting the pelvic area of the wearer.

FIG. 1 is a front view of an undergarment 100 configured to cover a lower back area and abdomen of a wearer. The undergarment includes a lower portion 120 and an upper portion 110. The upper portion 110 may be coupled to a top edge of the lower portion 120 along a seam that includes an elastic material 130.

In one embodiment the lower portion has an anterior panel, a posterior panel, a left panel, a right panel, a middle panel and a first opening and a second opening for legs of the wearer. A first edge of the anterior panel and a second edge of the anterior panel that respectively form an anterior portion of the first opening and an anterior portion of the second opening for the legs of the wearer may have one of a U-shape and a V-shape and respectively extend across opposing iliac crests of the wearer.

A periphery of the first opening and a periphery of the second opening respectively include a non-abrasive elastic material 122. The elastic material may be located on an interior or an exterior of the periphery of the first opening and the periphery of the second opening. The elastic material maintains a position of the periphery of the first opening around a first leg of the wearer and a position of the periphery of the second opening around a second leg of the wearer. For example, the elastic material prevents the periphery of the first opening and the periphery of the second opening from respectively moving up the first leg of the wearer and the second leg of the wearer.

The top edge of the lower portion also includes a non-abrasive elastic material 130. The elastic material may stretch around a hip area and a waist area of the wearer. The elastic material maintains a position of the top edge of the lower portion proximate to the hip area and the waist area of the wearer.

The lower portion may be a thin polymeric textile fabric comprising cotton. Accordingly, the lower portion supports the pelvic area of the wearer by extending around a crotch area, a rear area and a hip area of the wearer.

In another embodiment, the lower portion has a triangular anterior panel and a triangular posterior panel. For example, the lower portion may be a thong. Accordingly, the lower portion supports the pelvic area of the wearer by extending between the crotch area of the wearer and the rear area of the wearer.

FIG. 2 is a back view of the undergarment. As mentioned above, the upper portion of the undergarment covers a lower back area and abdomen of the wearer. The upper portion includes a top edge and a bottom edge. The bottom edge of the upper portion may be coupled to the top edge of the lower portion along a seam.

In addition, the upper portion may be tubular and extends from the top edge of the lower portion along the seam to a ribcage area of the wearer. For example, the upper portion may extend up to a brassiere worn by the wearer. The upper portion may be a thin polymeric textile fabric including but not limited to a jersey fabric that clings to the body of the wearer.

The top edge of the upper portion includes a non-abrasive elastic material 140. The elastic material maintains a position of the top edge of the upper portion proximate to the ribcage area of the wearer. Accordingly, the upper portion covers a lower back area and abdomen of the wearer.

The undergarment is configured to be worn under clothes of the wearer. The upper portion prevents the wearer from exposing skin of the lower back area and abdomen due to a movement of the wearer that causes the clothes of the wearer to expose the skin of the lower back area and abdomen. For example, sitting and/or bending down may cause a blouse of the wearer to lift and/or a pant of the wearer to sag thereby exposing at least one of the skin of the lower back area and the abdomen of the wearer.

Accordingly, when a particular movement of the wearer causes the clothes of the wearer to expose the skin of the lower back area and the abdomen of the wearer, only the upper portion covering the lower back area and the abdomen of the wearer is exposed.

FIGS. 3-6 show first and second alternative embodiments of the undergarment described herein. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the garment 200 includes a top portion 210 and a bottom portion 220. The top portion includes an elastic around the top edge 240. The top and bottom portions are joined at a boundary 230 that includes an elastic material.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the garment 300 includes a top portion 310 and a bottom portion 320. The top portion includes an elastic around the top edge 340. The top and bottom portions are joined at a boundary 330 that includes an elastic material.

As shown in FIGS. 1-6, the top portion of the undergarment may extend to a level wherein the undergarment lies under the breast bone of the wearer. For example, the top portion of the garment may extend a slight distance above the waist. In addition, as shown in these figures, the elastic material may be sewn into the undergarment so that the elastic material is not exposed or in contact with the wearer. In addition, these figures show that the style or shape of the garment may be varied. The style of the undergarment may include, for example, bikini, brief, thong, boy shorts, etc.

As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially”, and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should be understood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure that these terms are intended to allow a description of certain features described and claimed without restricting the scope of these features to any precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of the invention as recited in the appended claims.

It should be noted that the term “exemplary” as used herein to describe various embodiments is intended to indicate that such embodiments are possible examples, representations, and/or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such term is not intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples).

The terms “coupled,” “connected,” and the like as used herein mean the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary (e.g., permanent) or moveable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another.

References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below,” “fore,” “aft,” “inboard,” “outboard,” etc.) are merely used to describe the orientation of various elements in the figures. It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.

It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the airbag and shown in the various exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed:
 1. An undergarment comprising: a lower portion having a top edge; and an upper portion having a top edge and a bottom edge, the bottom edge of the upper portion being coupled to the top edge of the lower portion along a seam, wherein the lower portion supports a pelvic area of the wearer, and the upper portion extends from the top edge of the lower portion to a ribcage area of the wearer such that the upper portion covers a lower back area and abdomen of the wearer.
 2. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the upper portion is tubular, and the top edge of the upper portion comprises an elastic material configured to maintain a position of the top edge of the upper portion proximate to the ribcage area of the wearer.
 3. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the undergarment is configured to be worn under clothes of the wearer such that, when a particular movement of the wearer causes the clothes of the wearer to expose skin of the lower back area and abdomen of the wearer, the upper portion is exposed while covering the lower back area and the abdomen of the wearer.
 4. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the top edge of the lower portion comprises an elastic material configured to maintain a position of the top edge of the lower portion proximate to one of a hip area of the wearer and a waist area of the wearer.
 5. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the lower portion has an anterior panel, a posterior panel, a left panel, a right panel, a middle panel and a first opening and a second opening for legs of a wearer and supports the pelvic area of the wearer by extending around a crotch area, a rear area and a hip area of the wearer.
 6. The undergarment of claim 5, wherein a first edge of the anterior panel and a second edge of the anterior panel respectively forming an anterior portion of the first opening and an anterior portion of the second opening for the legs of the wearer respectively have a U-shape and extend across opposing iliac crests of the wearer.
 7. The undergarment of claim 5, wherein a first edge of the anterior panel and a second edge of the anterior panel respectively forming an anterior portion of the first opening and an anterior portion of the second opening for the legs of the wearer respectively have a V-shape and extend across opposing iliac crests of the wearer.
 8. The undergarment of claim 5, wherein a periphery of the first opening and a periphery of the second opening respectively comprise an elastic material configured to respectively maintain a position of the periphery of the first opening around a first leg of the wearer and a position of the periphery of the second opening around a second leg of the wearer.
 9. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the lower portion is a thong comprising a triangular anterior panel and a triangular posterior panel such that the lower portion supports the pelvic area of the wearer by extending between a crotch area of the wearer and a rear area of the wearer.
 10. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the lower portion is a thin polymeric textile fabric comprising cotton.
 11. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the upper portion is a thin polymeric textile fabric comprising jersey.
 12. A garment to be worn under clothes of a wearer, comprising: a lower portion having a top edge; and an upper portion having a top edge and a bottom edge, the bottom edge of the upper portion being coupled to the top edge of the lower portion along a seam, wherein the lower portion supports a pelvic area of the wearer by extending around at least one of a crotch area, a rear area and a hip area of the wearer, the top edge of the lower portion has an elastic material configured to maintain a position of the top edge of the lower portion proximate to a waist area of the wearer, and the upper portion is tubular and extends from the top edge of the lower portion to an upper ribcage area of the wearer, the top edge of the upper portion having an elastic material configured to maintain a position of the top edge of the upper portion proximate to the upper ribcage area of the wearer such that, when a particular movement of the wearer causes the clothes of the wearer to expose skin of the lower back area and abdomen of the wearer, the upper portion is exposed while covering the lower back area and the abdomen of the wearer.
 13. A garment to be worn under clothes of a wearer, comprising: a lower portion; and an upper portion coupled to the lower portion, wherein the lower portion extends around a crotch area, a rear area and a hip area of the wearer, and the upper portion extends from a top edge of the lower portion located proximate to a waist of the wearer to a ribcage area of the wearer such that, when a particular movement of the wearer causes the clothes of the wearer to expose skin of the lower back area and abdomen of the wearer, the upper portion is exposed while covering the lower back area and the abdomen of the wearer. 